Decision on nursing test retake deferred - 10.11.2006
THE final word on whether the passers of the nursing licensure examinations last June will have to retake Tests 3 and 5 due to the leakage of test questions to selected examinees was left hanging anew after Labor Secretary Arturo Brion said he will await the results of the National Bureau of Investigation’s probe first.
Brion, who was at the Senate yesterday for his confirmation hearing with the Commission on Appointments, told senators he is now "taking a fresh look" on the matter and the question of a retake is "currently under study."
"We’ll wait for the PRC (Professional Regulation Commission) decision. It’s the PRC’s call," he said.
PRC chair Maria Leonor Rosero, who was also at the Senate for the hearing on her agency’s 2007 budget, maintained that the PRC stand remains "no retake" as she blasted Brion and presidential adviser on overseas Filipinos Dante Ang for "intruding" on her prerogative to decide on whether a retake is justified or not.
Malacañang the other day left the decision on the retake to the Department of Labor and Employment and the PRC, while Ang was tasked to oversee the deployment of qualified Filipino nurses abroad.
Rosero accused Ang of doing a demolition job on the PRC due to his claim that the leakage has tainted the reputation of local nurses.
She also said she does not agree with the executive order issued by President Arroyo putting PRC under the "control and supervision of DOLE" and called it improper. She said she was not even consulted in the drafting of the EO.
Brion said the EO was not meant to "supplant the PRC" but added that he believes the order effectively gives him power to wield "control and supervision" over the PRC and also authorizes him to reverse PRC decisions on important matters like the retake.
Former Sen. Rene Saguisag, who came to oppose the confirmation of Brion, said the EO does not provide full control of DOLE over the PRC. "He’s reading too much on the EO. Nothing there says that it allows full DOLE control," Saguisag said. "He was all right until he joined the cabinet."
Saguisag stressed that a retake should be on a "purely on voluntary basis."
"Those who passed can take the board again and tell it to the world that they passed not only once but twice," Saguisag told the CA members.
Rosero also said no retake is needed and Filipino nurses are being accepted abroad despite the scandal. "There are 21 states in the US accepting nurses without the PRC license and they can take the NCLEX exams. There are many hospitals and associations accepting these recent passers of the examination," she said.
Rosero nevertheless said that if Malacañang orders a retake, they have no choice but to comply.
Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) spokesperson Msgr. Pedro Quitorio said they are hoping that whatever decision is issued on the matter will be "pro-nurses and pro-people" and not dictated by international pressure.
He said Malacañang should not make the majority of the passers suffer for the sins of a few. – Dennis Gadil with Gerard Naval
Brion, who was at the Senate yesterday for his confirmation hearing with the Commission on Appointments, told senators he is now "taking a fresh look" on the matter and the question of a retake is "currently under study."
"We’ll wait for the PRC (Professional Regulation Commission) decision. It’s the PRC’s call," he said.
PRC chair Maria Leonor Rosero, who was also at the Senate for the hearing on her agency’s 2007 budget, maintained that the PRC stand remains "no retake" as she blasted Brion and presidential adviser on overseas Filipinos Dante Ang for "intruding" on her prerogative to decide on whether a retake is justified or not.
Malacañang the other day left the decision on the retake to the Department of Labor and Employment and the PRC, while Ang was tasked to oversee the deployment of qualified Filipino nurses abroad.
Rosero accused Ang of doing a demolition job on the PRC due to his claim that the leakage has tainted the reputation of local nurses.
She also said she does not agree with the executive order issued by President Arroyo putting PRC under the "control and supervision of DOLE" and called it improper. She said she was not even consulted in the drafting of the EO.
Brion said the EO was not meant to "supplant the PRC" but added that he believes the order effectively gives him power to wield "control and supervision" over the PRC and also authorizes him to reverse PRC decisions on important matters like the retake.
Former Sen. Rene Saguisag, who came to oppose the confirmation of Brion, said the EO does not provide full control of DOLE over the PRC. "He’s reading too much on the EO. Nothing there says that it allows full DOLE control," Saguisag said. "He was all right until he joined the cabinet."
Saguisag stressed that a retake should be on a "purely on voluntary basis."
"Those who passed can take the board again and tell it to the world that they passed not only once but twice," Saguisag told the CA members.
Rosero also said no retake is needed and Filipino nurses are being accepted abroad despite the scandal. "There are 21 states in the US accepting nurses without the PRC license and they can take the NCLEX exams. There are many hospitals and associations accepting these recent passers of the examination," she said.
Rosero nevertheless said that if Malacañang orders a retake, they have no choice but to comply.
Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) spokesperson Msgr. Pedro Quitorio said they are hoping that whatever decision is issued on the matter will be "pro-nurses and pro-people" and not dictated by international pressure.
He said Malacañang should not make the majority of the passers suffer for the sins of a few. – Dennis Gadil with Gerard Naval
posted by brodkaster43 at Huwebes, Oktubre 12, 2006
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